Mikhail Dmitreyevich Skobelev

Skobelev, Mikhail Dmitreyevich (mēkhəyĕlˈ dəmēˈtrēəvĭch skôˈbĭlyĭf) [key], 1843–82, Russian general, one of the military commanders responsible for the Russian conquests in Turkistan. He took part in the expedition (1873) to Khiva and led the expedition to Kokand in 1875–76. He was appointed governor of the Khanate of Kokand, which the Russians renamed Fergana. Skobelev distinguished himself in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–78, and in 1881 he led the march to Geok-Tepe, which completed the conquest of Russian Turkistan.